It’s alive! It’s alive! At least it will be alive soon, “it” being Bay Area Stage’s production of “Young Frankenstein: The Musical,” which opens Friday, Oct. 12 and promises to be more fun than a roll in the hay.

The 2007 musical is an adaptation of Mel Brooks’ 1974 spoof of 1930s Universal horror films, namely the Frankenstein series. BAS co-producer Stacey Loew said she has only seen YouTube clips of the musical adaptation, but she and business partner Jeff Lowe are huge fans of Brooks, particularly “Young Frankenstein for its madcap humor and all-star cast.

“It’s just silly, fun humor,” Loew said. “You can’t help but laugh. I think you’d have to be dead not to. I just love it. I always have. I’ve seen it so many times.”

Loew is not alone. In 2000, the American Film Institute named “Young Frankenstein” as the 13th funniest movie of all time, and Loew herself said that whenever she has told people BAS was putting on “Young Frankenstein,” they would quote the movie back at her.

“It’s amazing how many people remember it,” she said.

With Halloween coming up and 2018 being the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s original “Frankenstein” novel, Loew said the timing was absolutely perfect.

The musical follows the storyline of the original film with additional scenes and in-jokes as well as a soundtrack of more than 20 songs. Yes, Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” which was memorably used in the original film, is among them.

Loew is especially appreciative of the hard work delivered by the show’s diverse cast, which ranges in age from 14 to 62 and ability from theater newcomers to veterans.

“We always love to see the spark of enthusiasm from our new people,” she said.

Additionally, the actors come from throughout the Bay Area, including Vallejo, Fairfield, Napa and Alameda. Kathie Gassett, a frequent performer in Benicia Old Town Theatre Group productions, will be among those in the ensemble.

Overall, Loew says “Young Frankenstein: The Musical” is very silly and zany— like its cinematic namesake—, and that alone should provide audiences with a respite from the negative news of the world, whether it is politics or natural disasters.

“I think people need some levity and I think just getting away and having a good time watching people be goofy onstage with that Mel Brooks humor,” she said, “I think people need it more than ever right now.”

“That’s what the arts are about anyway: to forget your troubles, at least for three hours in the theater,” she added.

“Young Frankenstein: The Musical” will run from Oct. 12 to 28. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. For the first two weekends, the show will be performed at BAS Theatre, located at 515 Broadway St. Suite H in Vallejo. It will be performed at Vallejo’s Empress Theatre, located at 330 Virginia St., in its final weekend. For tickets and more information, go to bayareastage.org.

BAS will be getting into the holiday spirit again from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16 when BAS hosts its production of “Scrooge: The Musical.”

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